Coca-Cola India Foundation organises plastic waste collection campaign

The Maidaan Saaf campaign, initiated by the Coca-Cola India Foundation, deployed around 200 volunteers, 200 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bins, and 10 collection kiosks along the Ratha Yatra route. The campaign was organised in Puri, Odisha, to promote responsible waste management.
 
The Coca-Cola India Foundation organised the campaign in collaboration with Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Puri Municipality, District Administration Puri, the Odisha Development Management Programme (ODMP), and the Y4D Foundation.
 
Saloni Goel, senior director, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) value creation and commercialisation at Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said, “Every element of this initiative was designed in alignment with the city’s needs and built on the principle of collective action.” She added. “This was an opportunity to contribute to the larger purpose, and to do it with intent.”

Pradeep Kumar, vice-chairman of ODMP, shared, “This year, just like the last, we witnessed even better cooperation from the government and the municipality. The Safai Saathis we engaged experienced economic development, having gained employment during the Puri event.”
 
Dr. Praful Nikam, president of Y4D Foundation, said, “With dedicated cleanliness drives, daily waste collection, motivating and engaging the public and managing waste, we were able to create a system that was both sustainable and impactful.”
 
Shantilika Pradhan, a Safai Saathi, said, “When we cleaned up the waste, others noticed and followed.” She continued, “People saw us using the dustbins, which motivated them to do the same. That’s how change began, by setting an example.”
 
The campaign aimed to demonstrate the shared responsibility of environmental stewardship and collaboration between civic bodies, corporate partners, and local communities.